Author: iharrell

Halmos Professor Coauthors Study with Canadian Scientists

Louis Nemzer, Ph.D.

NSU Professor Louis R. Nemzer, Ph.D., of the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences recently coauthored a research study with scientists from the University of Ottawa about the effect of network connectivity on the probability that a novel trait will evolve in a spatially separated population.

This collaboration started when Prof. Nemzer was visiting Canada as a Fulbright distinguished research chair on a Sabbatical during the 2019-2020 academic year. Evolutionary graph theory (EGT) is a field of study that attempts to describe organisms that live on separate patches connected by possible migration paths. The researchers felt that the previously used EGT models did not capture the nuances of real life, so Nemzer wrote a new agent-based model that kept track of each simulated bacterium individually.

The in silico results were compared with in vitro experiments with real bacteria, which helped support the conclusion that network connectivity can, in some situations, increase the chance a favorable mutation will eventually become widespread in a population. This work can help explain the ways antibiotic resistance can emerge, especially in settings that contain disparate locations, such as a hospital or neighborhood.

“I want to thank my amazing colleagues at the University of Ottawa, as well as the Fulbright program for promoting international cooperation on projects that impact all of humanity, such as the challenge of antibiotic resistance,” Prof. Nemzer said.

The research was just published in Evolution Letters, which is ranked among the top 15 journals in the field of Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics.

Posted 10/22/23

Honors Students Participate in World Mental Health Day

Students take a group picture after completing the Mental Health First Aid certification course.

Each year on Oct. 10, we celebrate World Mental Health Day (WMHD), a day where individuals and organizations raise awareness of mental health issues around the world to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. During this day, individuals working on mental health field share their current work and what needs to be done to make mental health and wellbeing a reality all.

In celebration of WMHD this Oct. 10, 16 students in the Farquar Honors College became certified Mental Health First Aiders. Similar to First Aid in which individuals are able to help others in an emergency situation, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an evidence-based, early intervention and public education program that helps individuals identify, understand, and respond to those exhibiting signs of mental problems or crises. There are separate training courses for assisting adults and youth, and a variety of specialized training topics which focus on those working with vulnerable populations such as Fire/EMS, Military/Veterans, Public Safety, and Higher Education, to name a few.

The training was offered through the Exploring Population Mental Health and Wellbeing course (BPH 3990H) taught by Christi M. Navarro, Ph.D., M.S., an Assistant Professor of Public Health at the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine and certified MHFA Instructor. Navarro offers the training through an ongoing partnership with the United Way of Broward County who has certified over 100 NSU students in MHFA since 2020.

If you are interested in learning more about Mental Health First Aid or are interested in scheduling a training for your department or organization, please contact Dr. Navarro at cnavarro@nova.edu.

Posted 10/22/23

NSU Makes Strong Showing at SENDCon Regional Meeting

NSU Davie and Tampa campuses were well represented at the recent SENDCon meeting in Atlanta, Ga., with two of our colleges in attendance – Pharmacy and Psychology/Neuroscience.

SENDCon, which stands for the Southeastern Neurodegenerative Disease Conference, is a new regional meeting whose parent organization is the Alzheimer’s Association USA:  https://www.alz.org/sendcon/overview.asp. Last year (2022) the meeting was supposed to take place in Bonita Springs, but a hurricane canceled it. There were about 200 people in attendance in-person and another 200 or so who attended virtually at the 2023 meeting. There were several posters presented by NSU.

Posted 10/22/23

University School Earns Spot on AP School Honor Roll

NSU University School has earned a place on the College Board’s AP School Honor Roll for the 2022-23 school year. The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools that have done outstanding work to welcome more students into AP courses and support them on the path to college success. NSU University School is being further recognized with the AP Access Award, which honors schools that encourage underrepresented minority students to take AP courses.

Learn more about NSU University School’s college preparatory program for students in Preschool – Grade 12 at www.uschool.nova.edu.

Posted 10/22/23

Honors College Student Publishes Poetry Book

Lakshmi Srikari Ravulaparthi and the front cover of her poetry book.

Farquhar Honors College student Lakshmi Srikari Ravulaparthi published a self-written poetry book on BookLeaf Publishing titled “Intricate Simplicity.” Ravulaparthi’s book is a collection of short poems that focuses on embracing life’s myriad emotions through escapism while remaining in the truth of reality.

Ravulaparthi’s inspiration for her poetry book sprouted at a young age when she discovered her fascination with art, nature, beauty, and the world around her. From traveling and living in numerous places to being trained as an Indian classical dancer, photographer, and music experimenter, that fascination cultivated into a passion as Ravulaparthi grew to express herself through poetry to convey her inner thoughts.

“I always hoped to publish an original work, and Intricate Simplicity is only the beginning of this personal journey towards self-discovery,” said Ravulaparthi, a senior behavioral neuroscience major. “Storytelling has always been a part of my life in distinctive ways, be it dance or reading books to my younger sister during childhood. I derive fun and happiness from creating and communicating scenarios.”

While being a full-time undergraduate student and a self-published writer, Ravulaparthi has no upcoming writing projects but has already envisioned potentially publishing a children’s fantasy book in the future.

After graduation, she plans to attend medical school to become a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician and a social worker for her community. Ravulaparthi is dedicated to helping others around her. She hopes to someday combine her passions for the arts and community service by establishing her own non-profit organization to help underserved children who can’t pursue an interest due to financial issues.

“Being an honors student helped me grow in ways I wouldn’t have otherwise,” said Ravulaparthi. “From the Carreyrou Reading Seminar my sophomore year to the Microorganisms Open Classroom my junior year… each experience either offered new insight into significant topics or became an unforgettable experience as part of my undergrad journey. I will forever be grateful for all my connections through this honors family.”

Posted 10/22/23

Psychology Associate Professor Publishes Manual on Grief

Christopher Layne, Ph.D., Associate Professor in NSU’s College of Psychology and colleagues recently published a manual on grief. This new manual, which was released on Sept, 14, 2023, is based on Multidimensional Grief Theory, and “provides counselors, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists (as well as students in these fields) with a flexible program for assessing and supporting children and adolescents who have experienced bereavement.”

The manual is the result of more than 20 years of work in the field and is available on Amazon. Read more about this manual HERE.

Posted 10/22/23

College of Optometry Honored for Excellence in Diversity

The NSU College of Optometry is a recipient of the 2023 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award for the second year in a row!

The HEED Awards and the Health Professions HEED Awards are the only national honors recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive campus environment. The honorees will be featured in the November/December 2023 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity, the nation’s largest and oldest publication dedicated to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) in higher education.

“The HEED Award selection process is rigorous, assessing the recruitment and retention of students and faculty, pathway programs, community partnerships, leadership support for DEI initiatives, and a comprehensive list of other considerations,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher. “The winning institutions consistently demonstrate best practices and set the standards for other colleges and universities.”

The Health Professions HEED Award recognizes U.S. medical, dental, pharmacy, osteopathic, nursing, veterinary, allied health, and other health schools and centers that exhibit excellence in DEI initiatives and strategies.

Posted 10/22/23

NASA Administrator Tours Levan Center, Meets Students

On Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson visited Nova Southeastern University’s Davie Campus to see firsthand how the Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation network is powering innovation in South Florida’s space ecosystem.

WTVJ-TV anchor Jackie Nespral interviews NASA Administrator Bill Nelson for an upcoming story during his visit to NSU.

During the visit, Administrator Nelson met with NSU President and CEO George L. Hanbury II; John Wensveen, the Chief Innovation Officer at NSU and Executive Director of the Levan Center; Provost Ronald J. Chenail; Dr. Fred Lippman, NSU’s Chancellor of the Health Professions Division; and Ken Dawson-Scully, NSU’s Senior Vice President for the Division of Research and Economic Development. Administrator Nelson also spoke with and took questions from several NSU students.

During his talk, Nelson covered the vastness of space, its influence on his life, the possibility of life beyond our planet, and UFO sightings. He also did a sit-down interview with WTVJ-TV anchor Jackie Nespral.

Nelson was sworn in as the 14th NASA administrator on May 3, 2021, and has been tasked with carrying out the vision for NASA to demonstrate American leadership in air, space, and on Earth for the benefit of all humanity.

Some of the top focuses of the Levan Center have been trends, challenges, opportunities, and strategies of entrepreneurship within the space sector. In September, the center held its Second Annual South Florida Space Day, which was dedicated to these objectives.

Posted 10/22/23

Halmos Department of Humanities & Politics Awarded Grant

From left, Jeremy Weissman, Kathleen Doll, Amanda Furiasse, Teng Li, Yair Solan, and Yvette Fuentes.

Florida Humanities, the statewide, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded the Department of Humanities & Politics with a Broadcasting Hope Media Grant to support Florida 2100: Tales of Tomorrow, a public podcast series.

Florida 2100 uses the power of storytelling to shed light on the challenges and opportunities the state of Florida faces in the 21st century. This podcast series aims to bring together scholarly experts, community voices, and artists to examine topics such as environmental sustainability, linguistic diversity, technological innovation, and cultural resilience, all while envisioning Florida’s potential in the year 2100.

According to Professor Furiasse “The grant offers a unique opportunity to develop innovative, humanities programming that can reach a broad audience and foster a more informed and proactive citizenry invested in Florida’s long-term well-being and sustainability, ultimately contributing to a brighter, more resilient future.”

Funding for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Posted 10/22/23

Art Museum Hosts Sunny Days/Starry Nights Event Nov. 2

NSU Art Museum is hosting its Sunny Days/Starry Nights – Free First Thursday event monthly every first Thursday free of charge. This event is presented by Broward Health.

Attendees enjoy free admission to the museum and 2-for-1 All Day Happy Hour. There will also be a “Mini Muse” drop-in session for children inspired by current exhibitions from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event will be held on Thursday, Nov. 2, at the NSU Art Museum, One Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information contact the NSU Art Museum at 954-525-5500, moareservations@moafl.org

 

Posted 10/18/23

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